On October 31, 2011, H.M. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, H.R.H. Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje and H.R.H. Princess Maxima of the Netherlands visited the island of Bonaire.

During their visit the royal trio were met by a small group of protesters who claimed that life on the island has become too expensive and the facilities on the island are deteriorating. When asked by reporters what she, Queen Beatrix, thought of these demonstrations she noted that she was sympathetic to their situation, but there is little she could do.

To watch a video as well as to view photos please click the links below:

On October 31, 2011, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco welcomed the president of the Republic of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré, to the principality.

The Malian delegation met with members of the Chamber of Economic Development of Monaco, the Government Counsellor for Foreign Relations José Badia and the Government Counsellor for Finance and Economy Marco Piccinini, to develop commercial relations between Mali and Monaco.

This afternoon the prince and the president had an opportunity to discuss Monégasque international cooperation actions in Mali, current economic relations between the two countries, the situation in sub-Saharan Africa as well as multilateral matters. The meeting was followed by a elegant lunch the Palace.

During his stay in the Monaco, President Touré will visit the Oceanographic Museum and Galerie des Pêcheurs for the exhibition of photographs of development cooperation programmes in Mali supported by the government of Monaco in partnership with the Monégasque Red Cross and Prince Albert II Foundation.

Tomorrow, H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will be in New York City to attend the Princess Grace Awards. Then on Tuesday November 2 the princely couple will be in Toronto, Canada to attend the opening of Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess exhibition.

On October 29, 2011, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh completed their tour of Australia, but before they left the queen attended a “Great Aussie Barbecue” along the banks of the Swan River in Perth.

In her farewell speech in front of tens of thousands of well-wishers the queen stated that she and the Duke of Edinburgh had “…enjoyed our visit immensely…”

We have been overwhelmed by your kindness and support… I can think of no more fitting way to end my visit… than in this idyllic Swan River setting which I have enjoyed on so many occasions. Once again we will return to the United Kingdom with fond memories.

To watch videos as well as to view photos please click the links below:

It’s Sunday so once again it is time for another edition of Blauw Bloed. In today’s episode your host, Jeroen Snel, covers the Dutch royal family in Aruba, the Scandinavian royals in New York City, H.R.H. Princess Maxima at Dutch Design Week, the King and Queen of Bhutan in India, T.R.H.s Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium in China, and much more.

On October 28, 2011, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attended a gala banquet “…as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)…” in Perth, Australia. Prior to the evening’s event the queen attended a brief luncheon with the new heads of commonwealth governments held at the Government House.

It was announced on October 28, 2011, that H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco would participate in the Ein Herz für Kinder (A Heart for Children) television fundraising gala to be broadcast live on ZDF from Berlin, Germany on December 17, 2011.

Per a press release regarding the event:

Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco kindly accepted the invitation and agreed to travel to Berlin. It will be her first visit to the German capital since her wedding to Prince Albert II of Monaco last July.

Even before her wedding, Princess Charlene was committed to helping the disadvantaged through sports and education. As a young athlete, she trained scores of disadvantaged children and helped inspire and comfort them. The former Olympic swimmer from South Africa often volunteered her time and status to raise significant funds in support of several construction and training projects. Princess Charlene is ambassador and member of the International Board of Directors of the Special Olympics, the largest international sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. She now is establishing her own Foundation called “Princess Charlene Foundation” to assist children and women in need around the world. Together with her husband, Princess Charlene also supports a wide variety of charitable organizations.

Prominent international guests of the “Ein Herz für Kinder” TV gala in the past years included Jane Fonda, Prince Harry, George Clooney and Salma Hayek. Thomas Gottschalk, Germany’s most famous TV personality, will host the event for the eleventh time.

On October 28, 2011, H.M. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, H.R.H. Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje, and H.R.H. Princess Maxima of the Netherlands began their first full day of activities in Oranjestad, Aruba.

This morning the royal trio did a walkabout in the lovely Caribbean country where they were greeted by thousands of locals waving flags and singing. Later in the afternoon, they will meet with local dignitaries as well as attend a reception in their honor.

To watch a video as well as to view photos please click the links below:

It was recently announced that H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco will welcome the president of the Republic of Mali, Amadou Toumani Touré, to the principality beginning on October 31, 2011.

The Malian delegation will meet with members of the Chamber of Economic Development of Monaco, the Government Counsellor for Foreign Relations José Badia and the Government Counsellor for Finance and Economy Marco Piccinini, to develop commercial relations between Mali and Monaco.

On Monday, President Touré, will be received by the Sovereign at the Palace of Monaco. This audience will be an opportunity to discuss Monégasque international cooperation actions in Mali, current economic relations between the two countries, the situation in sub-Saharan Africa as well as multilateral matters. The meeting will be followed by a working lunch at the Palace.

During his stay in the Monaco, President Touré will visit the Oceanographic Museum and Galerie des Pêcheurs for the exhibition of photographs of development cooperation programmes in Mali supported by the government of Monaco in partnership with the Monégasque Red Cross and Prince Albert II Foundation.

On October 28, 2011, H.S.H. Prince Albert II participated in the Peace and Sport flag handover during the final day of the 2011 Peace and Sport International Forum. After five years in Monaco, this important forum will take place in Sochi, Russia next year. “It’s a big responsibility that lays on our shoulders but we will not let you down,” noted Sochi 2014 CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko during the event.

On October 27, 2011, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, H.R.H. Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje, and H.R.H. Princess Maxima of the Netherlands arrived in Aruba to begin their ten-day official visit to the Netherlands Antilles.

Finally! On October 26, 2011, H.R.H. The Duchess of Cambridge attended a private dinner for the charity, In Kind Direct, held at Clarence House… this was her first “solo” engagement that many royal watchers have waited for. According to the official website for In Kind Direct the Duchess:

…stepped in for The Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales was unable to attend owing to a trip to Saudi Arabia to present his condolences to the Saudi Arabian Royal Family following the death of The Crown Prince. source

On October 27, 2011, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Clontarf Aboriginal College where she watched basketballers and Australian Rules footballers in action and visited a cookery class where kangaroo stew was on the menu. She did not sample the exotic fare but remarked, “Smells good.” On being presented with a small pot of stew, she asked, “Recently made?”

Three young Aboriginals presented the queen with a Aussie Rules ball, while others handed her a bouquet of flowers, one of hundreds she has received since arriving in Australia. Her Majesty has accepted the floral gifts wherever she has been, passing each bunch down a progression of staff members.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh visited the University of Western Australia to view some world-leading mining exploration technology from Anglo-Australian giant Rio Tinto. Whilst there he met the company’s chief executive Tom Albanese, who described the visit as “an honor”.

Later in the afternoon, the royal couple attended a reception at the Government House hosted by West Australian Premier Colin Barnett ahead of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II officially opening the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Friday.

To watch a video as well as to view photos please click the links below:

Fresh from his trip to New Zealand and official visit to Nepal, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the 2011 Peace and Sport International Forum in Monaco on October 27, 2011.

The Peace and Sport International Forum brings together heads of state as well as international figures from the political, sporting, private sector and civil society world to “…discuss possible initiatives and partnerships to make sport a vehicle for dialogue, stability and reconciliation throughout the world.”

This year’s attendees include H.R.H. Lestie III of Lesotho, the President of the Republic of Hungary H.E. Pál Schmitt, and the President of the Republic of Macedonia H.E. Gjorge Ivonov to name a few.

On October 26, 2011, T.R.H.s Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands attended the Development in Business conference in Amsterdam this afternoon. The purpose of the conference is “… to expand the cooperation development between the government and industry.”